* '''[[Seattle]]''' is by far the largest city in the region, indeed the state, and a major travel destination in its own right. It is one of the world's most beautiful cities.

* '''[[Seattle]]''' is by far the largest city in the region, indeed the state, and a major travel destination in its own right. It is one of the world's most beautiful cities.

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* '''[[King County]]''', where Seatle is located, also has some unique suburbs, such as [[Bellevue]], [[Redmond]], [[Woodinville]], [[Kent]] and much more that extend north, east and south from the core.

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* '''[[King County]]''', where Seattle is located, also has some unique suburbs, such as [[Bellevue]], [[Redmond]], [[Woodinville]], [[Kent (Washington)|Kent]] and much more that extend north, east and south from the core.

* '''The [[Kitsap Peninsula]]''' and the surrounding islands are more isolated from the urban sprawl because they require a ferry across Puget Sound to get there. While the area around [[Bremerton]] is more urbanized, the islands such as [[Bainbridge Island]] still maintain a bucolic charm.

* '''The [[Kitsap Peninsula]]''' and the surrounding islands are more isolated from the urban sprawl because they require a ferry across Puget Sound to get there. While the area around [[Bremerton]] is more urbanized, the islands such as [[Bainbridge Island]] still maintain a bucolic charm.

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* '''The [[North Sound]]''' region lies north of Seattle and includes the large city of [[Everett]] and its suburbs, as well as quiet Whidbey Island.

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* '''The [[North Sound]]''' region lies north of Seattle and includes the large city of [[Everett (Washington)|Everett]] and its suburbs, as well as quiet Whidbey Island.

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* '''The [[South Sound]]''' region includes the cities south of Seattle such as the industrial city of [[Tacoma]] and the state capital at [[Olympia]], further south.

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* '''The [[South Sound]]''' region includes the cities south of Seattle such as the industrial city of [[Tacoma]] and the state capital at [[Olympia (Washington)|Olympia]], further south.

==Cities==

==Cities==

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*'''[[Seattle]]''' is by far the largest city in the region. It is the heart of a vibrant metropolitan area and a major tourist destination.

*'''[[Seattle]]''' is by far the largest city in the region. It is the heart of a vibrant metropolitan area and a major tourist destination.

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*[[Everett]] is the main city on the North Sound.

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*[[Everett (Washington)|Everett]] is the main city on the North Sound.

*[[Bellevue]] lies across Lake Washington to the east of Seattle. It is the fifth largest city in the state.

*[[Bellevue]] lies across Lake Washington to the east of Seattle. It is the fifth largest city in the state.

*[[Tacoma]] is another major city in the South Sound. Formerly mostly industrial, the city center has been beautified, and the city now offers attractions such as the famous Museum of Glass, Point Defiance Park, and the Washington State History Museum.

*[[Tacoma]] is another major city in the South Sound. Formerly mostly industrial, the city center has been beautified, and the city now offers attractions such as the famous Museum of Glass, Point Defiance Park, and the Washington State History Museum.

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*[[Olympia]] lies at the southernmost bit of Puget Sound. It is the beautiful state capital.

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*[[Olympia (Washington)|Olympia]] lies at the southernmost bit of Puget Sound. It is the beautiful state capital.

*[[Bremerton]] is the main city within Kitsap County. It is starting to get a little urbanized but is still a fun place to explore.

*[[Bremerton]] is the main city within Kitsap County. It is starting to get a little urbanized but is still a fun place to explore.

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*[[Redmond]], home of Microsoft, is on the Eastside of Seattle and offers parks, shoppping, and more.

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*[[Redmond (Washington)|Redmond]], home of Microsoft, is on the Eastside of Seattle and offers parks, shopping, and more.

==Other destinations==

==Other destinations==

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===By train===

===By train===

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Amtrak has three train services that serve the Puget Sound area. Cities served are [[Seattle]], [[Tukwila]], [[Tacoma]], [[Olympia]], [[Edmonds]], and [[Everett]]: see the "Get in" sections of those cities for more details.

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Amtrak has three train services that serve the Puget Sound area. Cities served are [[Seattle]], [[Tukwila]], [[Tacoma]], [[Olympia (Washington)|Olympia]], [[Edmonds]], and [[Everett (Washington)|Everett]]: see the "Get in" sections of those cities for more details.

*'''The [[Empire Builder]]''' starts in Seattle, goes to Everett then heads east across the mountains to [[Spokane]] and eventually [[Minneapolis]] and [[Chicago]].

*'''The [[Empire Builder]]''' starts in Seattle, goes to Everett then heads east across the mountains to [[Spokane]] and eventually [[Minneapolis]] and [[Chicago]].

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*'''Amtrak Cascades''' is a regional train service that goes north from Seattle to [[Vancouver]] and south to [[Portland]] and [[Eugene]].

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*'''Amtrak Cascades''' is a regional train service that goes north from Seattle to [[Vancouver]] and south to [[Portland (Oregon)|Portland]] and [[Eugene]].

For more information about travelling by train in the United States see [[Rail travel in the United States]].

For more information about travelling by train in the United States see [[Rail travel in the United States]].

===By car===

===By car===

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I-5 is the main freeway running north-south; going north to [[Vancouver]] and south to [[Portland]] and [[California]]. I-90 goes east from Seattle to [[Chicago]] and ultimately [[Boston]]. Other east-west routes include US-2 over Stevens Pass from Everett and SR-410 from Tacoma (closed in winter).

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I-5 is the main freeway running north-south; going north to [[Vancouver]] and south to [[Portland (Oregon)|Portland]] and [[California]]. I-90 goes east from Seattle to [[Chicago]] and ultimately [[Boston]]. Other east-west routes include US-2 over Stevens Pass from Everett and SR-410 from Tacoma (closed in winter).

The Kitsap Peninsula and the surrounding islands are more isolated from the urban sprawl because they require a ferry across Puget Sound to get there. While the area around Bremerton is more urbanized, the islands such as Bainbridge Island still maintain a bucolic charm.

The North Sound region lies north of Seattle and includes the large city of Everett and its suburbs, as well as quiet Whidbey Island.

The South Sound region includes the cities south of Seattle such as the industrial city of Tacoma and the state capital at Olympia, further south.

Cities

The Puget Sound has many cities, check in the subregion articles for more of them. This is a sampling of seven of the more notable cities.

Seattle is by far the largest city in the region. It is the heart of a vibrant metropolitan area and a major tourist destination.

Bellevue lies across Lake Washington to the east of Seattle. It is the fifth largest city in the state.

Tacoma is another major city in the South Sound. Formerly mostly industrial, the city center has been beautified, and the city now offers attractions such as the famous Museum of Glass, Point Defiance Park, and the Washington State History Museum.

Olympia lies at the southernmost bit of Puget Sound. It is the beautiful state capital.

Bremerton is the main city within Kitsap County. It is starting to get a little urbanized but is still a fun place to explore.

Redmond, home of Microsoft, is on the Eastside of Seattle and offers parks, shopping, and more.

Understand

Puget Sound is a sheltered arm of ocean between Seattle and the mainland of Washington State to the east and the Olympic Peninsula to the west. The southern boundary is marked by where the mainland and the Olympic Peninsula meet, near Tacoma. The northern boundary is marked by Admiralty Pass and the Strait of San Juan de Fuca.

The San Juan Islands are not properly located in Puget Sound, contrary to common belief and widespread usage. There has been a recent popular movement to officially name the area that contains the San Juan Islands as the Salish Sea, in honor of the native people of the region. The Salish Sea is located at the confluences of Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Strait of Georgia.

The Puget Sound region consists of Puget Sound itself, the islands of Puget Sound, the Kitsap Peninsula, plus the mainland counties which form both the western and eastern sides of Puget Sound leading up to the edges of the watershed in the high crests of the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. Counties with this area include: Island, Snohomish, Kitsap, King, Pierce, and Thurston

Talk

Most people in the Puget Sound region speak English.

Get in

By air

The main airport in this region is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport which is the main airport in Washington. It is located south of Seattle in the city of SeaTac. It has direct flights to many American cities as well as some flights to Asia and Europe.

By car

I-5 is the main freeway running north-south; going north to Vancouver and south to Portland and California. I-90 goes east from Seattle to Chicago and ultimately Boston. Other east-west routes include US-2 over Stevens Pass from Everett and SR-410 from Tacoma (closed in winter).

Get around

See

Do

Visit the San Juan Islands, famous for sailing, fishing, scuba diving, hiking, bicycling and fine vistas and sunsets.

Go sea kayaking with the orca whales in the San Juan Islands.

Go bird-watching and see some of the 300+ species of birds found in Puget Sound.